Reiter, Rollin S. and Doris Redmond Unrestricted Fund
Rollin S. Reiter had a very gratifying and rewarding career running his family’s business, the well-known Reiter Dairy. Rollin assumed control of the company in 1967 following the death of his father, Harold Reiter (The University of Akron ’26), and changed the name from Reiter & Harter Dairy Inc. to Reiter Dairy Inc. in 1969. The original dairy was formed in 1930 by his grandfather, Ralph, and his father, Harold, and was situated across the street from The University of Akron. It was the first Akron dairy to homogenize milk, making raw milk more stable and preventing cream from rising to the top. The company also created a new way to cap milk bottles with a machine to crown and band the mouth of the bottle with a square of Pliofilm, similar to cellophane. Mr. Reiter continued to manage the business privately until it was sold to Dean Food Company in 1986. Following the sale of the company, Rollin accepted the position of vice president, milk and ice cream sales for Dean. The Reiters relocated to the Dean Food headquarters city of Franklin Park, Ill., where Rollin continued to manage the business until his retirement in 1993.
Mr. Reiter graduated from Copley High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Norwich University and his master's in business administration from the Harvard Business School. He was awarded an honorary doctorate at Norwich University in 1990 and is chairman emeritus of the Norwich Board of Trustees, having served for 15 years in that capacity.
Doris Redmond Reiter, better known as “Dori,” graduated from Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio. She then attended and graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she was an accomplished student and athlete. The couple has two sons, Wellington J. and Jefferson J. Reiter. Mrs. Reiter remains active at Northwestern, as well as several other charitable organizations. The Reiters are avid golfers and split their time between residences in Ohio and Florida.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Reiter were born and raised in Akron. They are very fond of the Akron community and The University of Akron. It is their wish to support the students, administration, and faculty of the school in the pursuit of student success and academic excellence. As part of the “Akron Family,” Rollin and Dori welcome the opportunity to contribute to the mission of The University of Akron.
The Reiters have established their endowment, The Rollin S. and Doris Redmond Reiter Unrestricted Fund, for the unrestricted benefit of The University of Akron. The funds may be used at the discretion of the president of the University to address any funding need that he deems appropriate.